THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Mt.1:18.

That verse from St. Matthew may be considered as marking the beginning of Christ’s ministry to mankind. As we await the Second Coming, let us not imagine for one second that that ministry is anything but continuing.

When the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a mighty rushing wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Acts 2:1.

Those words, from today’s lesson from Acts, and the events of the first Day of Pentecost may be considered as marking the beginning of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This ministry was promised by Jesus, a promise duly kept by the Holy and Blessed Trinity. This ministry is also at least one of the ways in which the ministry of Jesus Christ continues.

The scriptural passages I just quoted both relate events which were miraculous, and since miracles can only originate in the Divine, there can be no such thing as a “bigger” miracle. All miracles are created equal by definition. However, it would be true to say that the miracle of Pentecost was rather more dramatic in its execution than the quiet nativity of our Lord in that humble stable in Bethlehem.

Note that St. Luke writes not of an actual mighty rushing wind, but of a sound from heaven like the sound of a mighty rushing wind. Nor does he say the cloven tongues were fire, but rather that they resembled fire.

The drama is in no way diminished.

Most importantly, the promise was fulfilled and the power given. The power of God the Father, expressed through God the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ, God the Son.

In that drama, into that Divine roar, disappeared the last echoes of the agony upon Calvary. Consumed by those fire like tongues were the last vestiges of faint-heartedness so apparent in the men who fled from their Lord’s shaming in the judgment hall.

All were filled with the Holy Ghost. Those same, timid men were changed forever. The power of the Holy Ghost made clear the work which lay ahead of them and filled their hearts with the courage to do that work.

It begins with the proclamation of the wonderful works of God. The curse of Babel, when a host of people of one common language were justly scattered by God into peoples of many languages, was lifted.

Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judæa, and Cappadocia in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues.

The curse of Babel was lifted. What a sign of the power of the Holy Ghost!

On that day, too, was born the compelling, inspired preaching of St. Peter, with immediate effect. And the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Acts 2:41.

But even that does not describe the true greatness of the miracle of Pentecost.

It is not found in that mighty, transient sign of the Spirit, but in the lasting effect. It is not to be found in the fire-crowned preachers of Pentecost, but in the life of every sincere Christian since that day.

It lies not in that first tumultuous gathering of new converts, but in the progress of the universal, catholic and Apostolic Church.

For sure the foundation of the Church was laid that day, but look at what has happened since.

The Church overcame in three short centuries the mightiest empire the world has ever known. It has spread to the furthest corners of the earth, creating great and enduring buildings for worship in some and vibrant, sincere groups worshipping under trees in others. It has withstood persecution from without and survived corruption from within.

And it has done so to the Glory of God, through the saving power of Jesus and the operation of the Holy Spirit.

The same glory which abounded on that first Pentecost. The same Saviour of whom Peter said, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The same Holy Ghost, operating with the same power now as then. Exactly the same help for us now as then, fulfilling the same promise of Jesus Christ now as then.

There, before us, is the Glory of God, radiant on that first Pentecost. There, before us is that multitude of saints who have been alive with power of the Holy Ghost. Twenty centuries of them!

On this Day of Pentecost in the year of our Lord 2006 we need to examine with great care our own acceptance of the gift which brings us into fellowship with God and with every other Christian. The gift of God the Holy Spirit.

Each of us has a life to give for Christ, and if we fail to give our Blessed Lord that life it is wasted and God will judge us for that.

St. Paul teaches us that we all have different gifts. It is the Holy Spirit who will show us what those gifts are and how we are to use them. Jesus teaches us that, The Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things. John 14:26.

Are we alive to the Holy Ghost?

Are we alive with the Holy Ghost?

Are we receiving with open, willing and rejoicing hearts the teaching of the Holy Ghost?

If we cannot answer yes to these questions on this Day of Pentecost; if we are beset by the confusion of this modern world; if we find in our harried day that God is pushed out to the periphery, then let us look with special longing to the Holy Communion this morning.

Let us ask, right now, the Holy Spirit to join us fully to the fellowship of Christ’s perpetual sacrifice. Let us kneel humbly, side by side, to receive the Body and Blood of our Lord, desiring nothing but to serve Him.

Let us offer anew our souls and bodies to Him, our living sacrifice offered in thanksgiving for His perfect sacrifice for us.

And in so coming to Him, let us pray, on this Day of Pentecost, that He will clothe us with fire from on high to do His will.

Peter Jardine+

Whitsunday, June 4^th, 2006